Hair divider



Feb. 14, 1939. A, G, JOHNSON 2,147,040

HAIR U1 VIDER Filed Aug. 4, 1937 Patented Feb. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES YPATENT OFFICE 1o claims.

An object of my invention is to provide a hair divider of simple,`durable and inexpensive construction.

A further object is to provide a hair divider which is constructed sothat it will last indeiinitei ly, the means I disclose for securing thehair gripping members thereof in position being particularly designed tomake a substantial construction.

A further object is to provide a hair divider having a frame and a pairof head engaging members secured thereto with hair gripping members ofrubber or the like interposed between the frame and the head engagingmembers so that when the frame and head engaging members are securedtogether, the hair gripping members are effectively and rigidly vsecuredin their proper position. v

A further object is to provide a latch for a pair of hinged framemembers of a hair divider with means adjacent the latch for alining theframe members with each other when they are in latched position, thusinsuring proper gripping of the hair between the hair gripping membersthroughout their extent.

Another object is to provide a very simple ratchet arrangement for thecurling rod of the hair divider comprising a `pawl integral with theframe, the frame being so'constructed that the ratchet wheel on thecurling rod can be automatically associated with, or manuallydisassociated from, the pawl without the necessity of providing a pawlwhich is movable relative to the frame.

Still another object is to provideratchet and pawl mechanism for a hairdivider consisting of a stationary pawl and a ratchet wheel on thecurling rod coacting therewith, the frame of the hair divider having apeculiarly shaped notch receiving the end of the curling rod adjacentthe ratchet wheel which permits the desired operation of the ratchet andpawl mechanism.

Still another object is to provide a hair divider in which the hairbends asV soon as it leaves the hair gripping members, thus causing thefirst wave in the hair to be relatively close to the head.

With these and other objectsl in View, my invention consistsin theconstruction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of thedevice, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinaftermore fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and. illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a hair divider embodying my invention,Ithecurling rod Ybeing omitted therefrom and the divider being shown inopen position.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the divider in closed position.

Figure 3 is a plan view of a curling rod of the usual character adaptedto coact with the hair divider.

Figure 4 is an end elevation of the hair divider showing it positionedagainst the head of a person and showing the first step in the operationof winding the hair on the-curling rod after the divider has beenclamped in position adjacent the head. Figure 4a isv an enlargedsectional view on the line lla-4a of Figure 2 showing the parts of the15 divider separated in solid lines and closed in dotted lines, thisfigure illustrating the means for retaining the two hinged portions ofthe divider in alinement with each other when they are in latchedposition Vwithout depending on the latch for this purpose.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 2showing how the frame members and head engaging members are securedtogether with the hair gripping members interposed between them.

'Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4 but on a Ylarger scale, andshowing the curling rod in its nal position.

Figure 7 is a similar View illustrating the operation of the ratchetmechanism; and

Figure 8 is a sectional view on the line 8 8 of Figure 6 illustratingthe latch for the hair divider.

On the accompanying drawing I have used the reference numerals I0 and I2to indicate a pair of frame members. 'Ihese are formed of fiat sheetmetal bent to the proper shape, the member I0 having an ear I4`to theouter end of which one end of the frame member I2 is pivoted as by arivet or the like I6. The other end of the frame member I0 has analining projection I3, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear. Theprojections I4 and I8 have laterally extending ears 20 and 22respectively.

The base of the frame formed by the members I 0 and I2 consists of a'pair of head engaging members 24. These may be made of wood or othersuitable material and are secured to the frame members Il) and I2 byscrews or the like 26. Hair gripping members 28, which are strips ofrubber or the like, are interposed between the frame members I0 and I2and the head engaging members 24. This construction provides a veryeffective and rigid mounting of the hair gripping 555 members 28 inassembled position relative to the frame of the hair divider.

The ear 20 is provided with a notch 30, the shape of which is shown bydotted lines in Figure '7. The ear 22 isprovided with a differentlyshaped notch 32. This notch has a portion 34 inclined away from thecenter of the notch and inclined away from the base of the hair divider.

A curling rodr36 is provided with spindles 38 and 40 received in thenotches 30 and 32 respectively. A ratchet wheel 42 is vformed on thecurling rod 36 adjacent the spindle 40, and the teeth of this ratchetwheel are adapted to coact with a pawl 44 consisting of an ear bentlaterally from the ear 22. The curling rod 3B is provided with theusualhingedretainer 46 to aid in starting the winding of the hair 48 on thecurling rod, as shown in Figure 4, with the hair divider engaging thehead 49.

A latch 50 is provided for the frame members I0 and I2. The latch 58 ishook-like in character and has an ear 52 hinged at 54 `to an offsetportion 56 ofthe end of the frame members I2 opposite that end which ishinged on the rivet I6. The hook portion of the latch is indicated at58. This is adapted to be sprung over the edge 60 of the ear 22 asillustrated by dotted lines in Figure 8 for latching the parts of thehair divider in the closed position illustrated in Figures 2, 4, 6 and'7.

As shown in Figure 4a, prior to closing of the hair divider, theprojection I8 enters the space 62 indicated between the offset portion56 of the frame I2 and the hair gripping member 28 thereadjacent. When,the parts are closed, as shown by dotted lines, and as shown by fulllines in Figure 6, the projection I8 is confined in the space E2 andthereby retains the frame members I0 and I2 in alinement without havingto depend on the latch for this purpose.

Practical operation After the outerV end of the hair 48 has been clampedunder the retainer YlIIirof the hair curling rod, the rod is rotated inthe direction of the arrow a forwinding the hair thereon. As the hair isWound on the curling rod, the curling rod approaches the hair dividerand finally assumes the position of Figure 6, with the hair loosely-wound on the curling rod.

Thereafter the hair can be tightened by further rotation in thedirection of the arrow a on Figure 7, the teeth of the ratchet wheelslipping past the lower edge of the pawl 44 as the curling rod isrotated by hand. Each time a tooth is urged past the pawl, the spindle40 is swung from the center point 64 indicated by a dot in Figure 'l inthe direction of the arrow b. When the curling rod is released, thetension of the hair thereon tends to rotate it in the direction of thearrow c on Figure 6. This causes the teeth of the ratchet wheel toengage the pawl to prevent reverse rotation.

Subsequently when the hairnis to be released, the ratchet end of thecurling rodean be pressed manually to the position of Figure 7, whichreleases the teeth of the ratchet wheel from the pawl and thehair,rbeing under tension, rotates the curling rod in the direction ofthe arrow c for loosening the rod. Thereupon the rod can be removed fromthe hair divider and the hair unrolled therefrom..V

It will be noted that the axis of the curling rod 36 is offset from Vthemeeting edges of the hair gripping members 28l so that the hair bendssharply as it leaves these members and this en- Y vto the head, thusresulting in a better appearing permanent.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of theparts of my device without departing from the real spirit and purpose ofmy invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modifiedforms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may bereasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a hair divider, a pair of spaced frame members hinged at one endto each other, a latch for latching the other ends of said frame memberstogether, a head engaging member for each frame member, means forsecuring said head engaging members to said frame members, one of saidframe members having a pair of forked ears, a curling rod havingspindles received in said ears and ratchet means for preventing reverserotation of said curling rod relative to said ears, said ratchet meanscomprising a ratchet wheel having teeth engageable in one direction onthe curling rod and a pawl for coaction therewith, said pawl beingstationary relative to one o said ears and the reception fork of saidear beingy wider than the spindle received therein to permit movement ofsaid ratchet wheel within the fork to a position releasing the teeththereof from said pawl.

2. In a hair divider, a pair of spaced frame members hinged at one endto each other, a latch for latching the other ends of said frame memberstogether, a head engaging member for each frame member,cmeans forsecuring said head engaging members to said frame members, one of saidframe members having a pair of forked ears, a curling rod havingspindles received in said ears and ratchet means for` preventing reverserotation of said curling rod relative to said ears, said ratchet meanscomprising a ratchet wheel on the curling rod and a pawl for coactiontherewith, said pawl being stationary relative to one of said ears andthe reception fork of said ear being wider than the spindle receivedtherein and having 'an inclined edge opposite said pawl to permitmovement of said o ratchet wheel without release from the fork to aposition releasing the teeth thereof from said pawl.

3. In a'hair divider, a frame having a pair of forked ears, a curlingrod having spindles received in said ears and ratchet means forpreventing reverse rotation of said ,curling rod relative to said ears,said ratchet means comprising a stationary rigid pawl in the framecooperable with a ratchet wheel on the rod.

4. In a hair divider, a frame having a pair of forked ears, a curlingrod having spindles received in said ears and ratchet'means forpreventing reverse rotation of said curling rod relative to' said ears,said ratchet means comprising a ratchet wheel on the curling rod and apawl for coaction therewith, said pawl being stationary relative to oneof said ears and the reception fork of said ear having a bottom widerthan the spindle received therein and pitched toward the pawl to permitmovement of said ratchet wheel to' a position releasing the teeththereof from said pawl.

5. In a hair divider, a frame having a pair of forked ears, a curlingrod having spindles Vreceived in said ears and ratchet means forpreventing reverse rotation of said curling rod relative to said ears,said ratchet means comprising a ratchet wheel on the curling rod and apawl for coaction therewith, said pawl being stationary relative to oneof said ears and the reception fork of said ear being wider at thebottom than the spindle received therein and having an inclined edgeopposite said pawl to permit movement of said ratchet wheel laterally toa position releasing the teeth thereof from said pawl.

6. In a hair divider, a frame, a curling rod, said frame having notchedends to receive the ends of said curling rod, a pawl extending from saidframe, said curling rod having a ratchet wheel for coaction therewith,the notch adjacent said pawl being Wider than the end of the curling rodreceived therein to permit lateral movement of said curling rod to aposition releasing the teeth of said ratchet wheel from said pawl. Y

7. In a hair divider, a frame, a curling rod, said frame having notchedends to receive the ends of said curling rod, a pawl extending from saidframe, said curling rod having a ratchet wheel for coaction therewith,the notch adjacent said pawl being wider than the end of the curling rodreceived therein to permit lateral movement of said curling rod to aposition releasing the teeth of said ratchet wheel from said pawl, saidlast mentioned notch having the edge thereof opposite said pawl inclinedaway from the center of the notch and away from the base of the frame. A

8. In a hair divider a hair gripping member having a pair of separableelements, a pair of spaced frame members hinged at one end to eachother, a latch for clamping the other ends together, and a pair of headengaging members secured respectively one to each of said frame membersand said separable elements, said head engaging members being positionedin spaced relation so that hair strands are gripped at a predetermineddistance from the scalp.

9. In a hair divider, a frame having a pair of spaced frame elementshinged at one end to each other, a latch for latching the other endstogether, said frame having a pair of forked ears and curling rodreceivable in said forks having a ratchet means at one end forpreventing reverse rotation thereof, one of said ears being providedwith a pawl for engagement with the ratchet and having its forkedportion wider than the diameter of the rod end with the bottom thereofpositioned nearer the scalp at the side adjacent the pawl so that thecenter line of the rod when received therein is shifted nearer the scalpthan the pawl and ratchet engagement in order that a pull exerted by thestrands of hair will lock the curling rod in place.

10. In a hair divider a hair gripping member having a pair of separableelements, a pair of spaced frame members hinged at one end to eachother, a latch for clamping the other ends together, and a pair of headengaging members secured respectively one to each of said frame membersand said separable elements, said head engaging members being positionedin spaced relation so that hair strands are gripped at a predetermineddistance from the scalp, a curling rod for curling the hair, notchedends on the frame to receive the ends of the curling rod, a pawlextending from said frame and a ratchet wheel on the curling rod forcoaction therewith, the notch adjacent'said pawl being wider at thebottom than the diameter of the end of the curling rod received thereinto permit lateral movement of said curling rod to a position releasingthe teeth of said ratchet wheel from said pawl.

ANTHON G. JOHNSON.

